The Oakland Township oncologist accused of administering unnecessary cancer treatments as part of a Medicare fraud scam is now facing additional charges.
Farid Fata is facing 11 additional health care fraud counts, a count of conspiracy to receive and pay kickbacks and one count of naturalization fraud.
The additional charges were announced Wednesday evening in a press release from the office of U.S. Attorney Barbara McQuade.
Fata, the owner of Michigan Hematology Oncology, “is alleged to have submitted or caused the submission of false and fraudulent claims for services that were not medically necessary” between August 2007 and July of this year, the release states.
“The indictment also alleges that Dr. Fata engaged in a scheme to unlawfully enrich himself through the solicitation and receipt of kickbacks in exchange for the referral of services and arranging for the furnishing of services, including home health care services and hospice services.”
Fata is also accused of unlawfully procuring his naturalization “by falsely stating on his application for naturalization that he never committed a crime or offense for which he was not arrested when in fact Dr. Fata then well knew he had, as of March 10, 2008, committed crimes of health care fraud,” the release states.
Each health care fraud count is punishable by up to 10 years in prison, as does the naturalization fraud count. Conspiracy to receive and pay kickbacks is punishable by up to five years in prison.
If convicted of naturalization fraud, Fata’s citizenship would be voided and his certificate of naturalization would be canceled.
Those affected by Fata who are seeking further information about the case can call the U.S. Attorney’s Office Victim Information Line at 888-702-0553.